Villanova junior guard Bryan Antoine is expected to be out for approximately six weeks after suffering an injury to his right patella tendon during a team workout last week. 

 “The injury is a slight patella tendon issue that does not require surgery,” stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. “Bryan is fully focused on the rest and rehab the doctors have prescribed. He continues to have an amazing attitude and we’re proud of his resilience.”

Injuries to Antoine’s right shoulder has limited his impact in his first two seasons as a Wildcat, and his third year in the program is starting off similarly. In his first two seasons, Antoine has missed 17 games due to injury, plus multiple DNP’s (did not play) due to being behind due to the lack of practice. 

In a press availability last week Wright said, “It’s not a season injury. We’re trying to determine how long he’ll be out right now, it just happened in a practice. He’s been having a great summer and fall, he just came down going to the basket one time, he didn’t go down or anything, it was at the end of practice, so we know it’s a patella injury.” 

In two seasons as a Wildcat, Antoine has appeared in 26 games, including all three NCAA tournament games last season. He received his season high in minutes played in the second round victory over North Texas, logging six points in 23 minutes. 

Senior guard Collin Gillespie had high praise for Antoine recently. “He’s got a lot of talent, obviously he was playing really well in the summer and the fall…” Gillespie said. “Bryan was really impressive and you could tell how talented he is when he plays but right now he’s just getting back healthy and he should really contribute for us this year.”

The six week timetable currently listed for Antoine would put his return around the third week of November, or the second week of the season. Villanova opens the season Tuesday, November 9th against Mount St. Mary’s.